The detachment contained itself near the stone foundation of the keep. The yauls were driven into a group and guarded.
DoAyve followed the udoğan. The stairs leading up were incredibly uncomfortable, high, and slippery. DoAyve thought that an Itoshin should not complain about such inconvenience, but then he heard his commander swear about the layout of the tower.
Mustnt a warrior get used to everything? DoAyve asked with surprise.
Yes, EDo replied. A warrior must know how to climb steep rocks, walk on mountain paths, move in a fog. But if we build a citadel, we must build it so that it helps the soldier and doesnt get in his way! These steps could have been made in a more convenient manner. Then a warrior would spend less effort on climbing them, investing more forces in his stroke in a fight with the demon instead!
It was not for nothing that EDo was the Emperors favorite udoğan. Valor and strength were not his only distinctive features; so were wisdom and discretion. And, again, DoAyve couldnt disagree with his commander.
The reception hall of udoğan Goro was furnished in a simple and coarse manner, thus matching the whole fortress. The only decoration of the hall was the weapons hung on the walls, and stuffed demons a personal collection of the defeated enemies of Goro. Each udoğan usually created a collection of the most terrible individuals. This tradition had started from the Emperor.
May the omnipotent Emperor Tosho be glorious! EDo and Goro cried out at the same time, and afterwards enveloped each other into a strong, manly embrace.
DoAyve kneeled down on one knee before the udoğan of Lauhan.
Goro was a man of mature age, in appearance about forty. He greeted his guests without armor, in a light canvas tunic laced with a rope belt. Apparently, he believed the regalia of an udoğan were unnecessary in this reception. The hands and face of Goro were entirely covered with scars. The demons had left many memorable marks with their claws. The udoğan stood straight and proud, his voice penetrated with steel.
EDo and DoAyve were offered rough wooden chairs to sit on. Goro himself settled in a broader armchair, carved from stone and covered with yauls skin. He looked inquiringly at DoAyve. The young warrior felt a little uneasy.
This is my assistant! EDo explained. I keep no secrets from him.
Hes too young! Goro noted, but DoAyve was used to such remarks in his address by now.
At eighteen, he has killed as many demons as the common Itoshin doesnt kill in his entire life! EDo answered in his assistants defense. DoAyve was flattered by such an intercession.
Its commendable, said Goro, and paused for a moment. So, to the Valley?
To the Valley! EDo confirmed. Thats why I wanted to ask for a piece of advice from a worldly-wise udoğan.
Advice on what?
Advice on what should I do. I know how to fight demons, and Im good at it. My warriors do it just as well. But there are no demons in the Valley.
Ye-e-ah, Goro drawled, Theres something worse than the demons in the Valley. You know, brave EDo, Im glad that Ive returned to the lands of the Empire. I am glad the Emperor leaves me to be the udoğan of Lauhan and does not send me to the south. I find it easier here. Im just like you I know how to fight demons and do it just as well. This is my occupation, my essence, the essence of the warrior and I like it. Wars must be carried out by the sword, and in the Valley, that is not always so. But Im glad that it is you who is heading there! You are young, brave, and devoted to the Emperor! And your fighters are devoted to you. What else is needed?
Tell me about the clans!
About the clans? Why such an interest?
The Emperor allowed me and my warriors to join clans, EDo replied.
Is that so? Goro fell deep into thought.
For several centuries, the Itoshins had sent military detachments to the Valley to patrol the cities and retain order. The single duty of an Itoshin was always to serve the Emperor. And if the Emperor sent the Itoshins to the Valley, then the Itoshins had to obey the rulers of the Valley, as they did the Emperor. However, at first, the udoğans faced the fact that the burgomaster of one city could give an order that differed from the order of the burgomaster of another city. Therefore, Emperor Tosho sent a messenger to the Valley with a demand to work out a single law the Itoshins would obey. Since then, the burgomasters had become powerless over the warriors of the Empire. Only the Council of Four could give special orders. The Itoshins had also cut at the root all theft, robbery, smuggling, counterfeiting, fights with arms, vagrancy, and begging. For such violations, they denounced those guilty of the crime to a city prison, where it was the local court that passed decisions. Moreover, the Itoshins could sentence individuals with death for murder, necromania, and human trafficking on the spot, but such an order had to be given personally by the udoğan, and only in the case of an emergency.
The Itoshins never joined the clans. However, now the Emperor had lifted the ban due to special circumstances.
Udoğan EDo led his troops not just to protect the order; he had received a personal task from the Emperor to find out what had happened in the Valley. DoAyve knew all this. EDo had no secrets from his own warriors, and the command of the ruler was quoted word-for-word. EDos detachment continued to serve the Law of the Valley, but he had to act in his own interests as well. This is why the Emperor abolished the ban on joining the clans.
The Emperor remembers your merit, faithful udoğan Goro, EDo added. Thats why he advised me to ask you about the clans and life in the Valley, for you know more about it than anyone else!
More than the other udoğans still alive.
It would perhaps have been more correct to speak so, but EDo was choosing his words carefully. Indeed, Goros age was already admired. But he commanded the fortress and obviously wasnt avoiding battles. The testimony of that was his scars, many of which were very fresh. At the same time, Goro had spent a long time in the Valley and knew a lot about it.
A modest smile spread over the stern face of the fortress owner. He obviously enjoyed the idea of gaining attention from the Emperor.
Then Ill say this, Lauhanian udoğan began, Of course you, valiant EDo, have heard that its all different in the Valley. I really love our people and culture for our simplicity. There is an Emperor, and no one above him. The will of the Emperor is the only truth. And it is the udoğans that carry out this will. If you are a warrior, listen to the udoğan, the detachment commander. If you are a city dweller, listen to the udoğan, the city administrator. If you are the udoğan, listen to the Emperor. Thats it! The power lies in the simplicity.
But that isnt how it is in the Great Cities. Each city has its own burgomaster, and there is no unitary power. Imagine, brave udoğan, that one burgomaster conceived one thing, for example, to put a trading post between the cities, and another one wants to create a stadium at the same place. And whats to be done? Whom to listen to? Yes, yes, to the Council of Four! There are still two burgomasters, and what if one supports a trading post and another the stadium? Thats where the clans play their part. The clans are a hidden power, and not the kind that we honor. It lies not in the speed of the stroke, but in the influence of the clan on other inhabitants of the Valley. Their beautiful words strike stronger than sharpened blades. Lies, cunningness, weaving intrigues, and endless machinations behind the back these are the weapons of the clans! And as for the actual governance, the power of the burgomasters is emblematic. Any burgomaster in truth fulfills the will of the most influential clans.